Wilson Signs With Rangers

Josh Wilson photo by Joe Doll

It seemed as though something was up when Josh Wilson, originally scheduled to start at shortstop in Tuesday’s spring training contest in Lancaster, was not on the field. The infield situation grew a bit more hairy when shortstop Ryan Dent was forced to exit due to injury after a collision on a slide at second base in the first inning. Following the contest, an 8-4 loss that dropped York’s spring record to 2-2-1, Mark Mason announced that Dent would only miss a couple of days with the ankle injury. All things considered, that’s good news and it sounds as though he’ll be back quickly. The other piece of news, and even though it’s a departure for the Revs, it’s certainly good news, is that Wilson had been signed by the Texas Rangers, and would be heading to Triple-A Round Rock the next day.

Although the Revs must absorb the loss of a veteran big league shortstop, their depth of talent has them well-equipped to do so and we saw the potential changes on display in Tuesday’s game. Once Dent was forced to leave, Angel Franco moved from second base to shortstop, and Alonzo Harris came in from left field to man second base where he has spent much of his career. The duo passed their initial test with flying colors, turning 6-4-3 double plays in three consecutive innings. As great of an outfielder as he is, Harris might see more time in the infield now, as Derrick Robinson arrived in York on Tuesday, and now the most position player depth on the squad is in the outfield.

It appeared that Mason might have a challenge balancing equal playing time for an abundance of starting-caliber players heading into the season. Wilson’s signing actually helps lessen that burden on the skipper, who had built his roster to be able to handle a move such as this.

For more on Wilson’s signing with Texas, here is the Revolution’s press release from Tuesday afternoon:

After signing to return to the York Revolution for a second season, veteran infielder Josh Wilson has now signed with the Texas Rangers, it was announced by Revs manager Mark Mason on Wednesday morning. Wilson is expected to join the Triple-A Round Rock Express as he eyes a return trip to the Major Leagues.

“I’m really excited for Josh,” commented Mason. “I believed he should have had an infield job in the big leagues and I’m very happy for him to have a chance to pursue that. He came here and was a consummate professional for us and put himself in position to have this opportunity. That’s what our league is all about.”

An eight-year Major League veteran, Wilson was in the big leagues as recently as 2015 with the Detroit Tigers, batting .316 in 21 games played. The Pittsburgh native then spent all of the 2016 season with York where he was the Revs’ everyday shortstop, batting .255 with eight home runs and 39 RBI in 120 games played, and ranking tied for eighth in the Atlantic League in doubles with 28.

Wilson has appeared in 431 Major League games with nine different teams, having played for the then-Florida Marlins (2005), Washington Nationals (2007), Tampa Bay Rays (2007), Arizona Diamondbacks (2009, 2011, 2013), San Diego Padres (2009), Seattle Mariners (2009-2010), Milwaukee Brewers (2011), Texas Rangers (2014), and Detroit Tigers (2015). He has enjoyed three separate stints with Arizona, and will now set his sights on cementing a second stint with Texas, having played for the Rangers just two years before coming to York. He is a .229 hitter in the big leagues with 10 home runs, 54 doubles, seven triples, and 84 RBI.

In the minors, Wilson has logged an additional 1,529 games played and is a .272 hitter with 101 home runs. He had played at the Triple-A or Major League level in 12 consecutive seasons from 2004-2015.

Now in his 19th pro season, the 36-year-old was originally a third round draft pick of the Marlins out of Mt. Lebanon (PA) High School in 1999 where he was named the State Player of the Year, helping guide his team to a state championship.

Wilson is the first member of the 2017 Revs to earn a contract with a Major League organization. He will look to become the ninth in Revs history to go from York to the Major Leagues and second to do so with the Rangers as left-handed pitcher Ryan Feierabend (York ’12) appeared with Texas in 2014.